“Idon’tknowhowitwillplayoutatthistime–itreallydependsonhowthey[theprovincialgovernment]moveitforward.Fromourboardsperspective they were pleasedtoseethatsomeofthekeyitemswouldbedealtwithprovinciallyinsteadoflocally,”Sacherexplained.“Onthesametoken,they[schoolboards]wouldlovedtoseemoreconsultationonthespecificdetailsofhowBill8isactuallyimplementedandcertainlythroughASBAtheirvoicehasbeen heard and some specificamendmentshavebeenheard.”

Cleasesaid“schoolboardsneededavoiceinthisfirstroundofnegotiations,andIampleasedtoseetheMinistertakingstepstoensurethishappens. While we wouldstillliketoseeotherchanges,welookforwardtoworkingwiththegovernmentinauthenticpartnershiptostrengthentheroleoflocalschool boards in thisprocess.”

“Wehadproposedfurtherchangestothescopeofcentralbargaining,”addedClease.“ThestructureandoperationofTEBAandthecostimplicationsof the bargaining process.Whilethereareoutstandingissues,wehaveemphasizedtotheMinisterandthedepartmenttheimportanceofschoolboardsworking with the governmentastheActisimplementedandregulationsaredeveloped.”